Disclaimer: I don't own jack!
Throwing Stones
Chapter Thirty-Two: Family Reunion
Kagome awoke to the feeling of a warm palm upon her forehead.
She blinked a few times before her vision steadily began to clear.
The familiar setting of her bedroom came into view. She could spy bouquets of flowers, paper streamers and an oversized banner that read 'Welcome Home!' decorating her room and filling it to the brim. The signatures written across the banner were ones that she recognized as belonging to the group. Kenji and Himiko's characters of their names were drawn neatly and in a regular font. Atsuhiro's was the largest signature on the banner, taking up nearly the same amount of space as the word 'home'. His handwriting was flashier, with exaggerated edges and thicker lines. Squiggled beneath those were everyone else's signatures.
A small smile pulled at the corners of her lips.
She had to admit that this was a nice way to wake up.
"Sleeping beauty arises again." Touya teased her, lowering his hand from her forehead to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.
Kagome's smile softened, "Let me guess, I was out for three months and you had to use true love's kiss to awaken me."
His smirk widened, "Unfortunately no. The good news is that you were only out for the night. The bad news is that there was no kissing involved. There could be if you'd like though."
She heard the sound of someone clearing their throat.
Kagome practically leapt out of her skin when she finally took notice of Hawks leaning on the doorframe of her bedroom.
How long had he been there?
Her face flushed with embarrassment.
"As cute as this reunion is, we actually have a special visitor today." The blond cast Touya a displeased glare.
Kagome cocked her head to the side curiously, "A visitor?"
She heard the clinking of metal and heavy footsteps approaching from the hallway. She struggled to sit up so Touya reached down and helped her into a more comfortable position that wouldn't put too much strain on her still frail body.
She craned her neck to try to see who was approaching but all she could spy were officer after officer, each one armed to the teeth and their numbers completely filling the upstairs corridor.
Who on earth could require such an extensive transport?
The officers at the front suddenly parted and she found a familiar face staring back at her.
"Papa!" Kagome flung her arms up and tried to run towards him.
Touya was faster though. He wrapped one arm around her waist and anchored her to the bed.
"Let him come to you." Her significant other whispered calmly, "Your body needs time to heal before you try to run."
She'd hardly paid his words any mind. Her vision began to blur as tears filled her eyes.
Her father's arms wrapped around her shoulders as he pulled her into a gentle hug.
"You've grown so big." He muttered through his own tears. "You were still so little the last time I saw you."
Kagome gave a heaving sob as she cried into her parent's chest.
He looked so tall and thin compared to her memories of him. His well tamed hair had grown down to his shoulders in an untidy mess. A patch of uneven fuzz covered his chin and his eyes seemed more sunken and hollow than she last recalled.
Tartarus had virtually sucked the life out of him.
"How is this…?" She could barely form the words before her throat closed.
"Endeavor pulled a few strings," Aizawa was the one that spoke that time. She hadn't noticed him among the officer's ranks earlier. Had he just arrived or had he simply been stuck at the back of the group?
He continued, "Since your allotted visiting was supposed to occur yesterday, Endeavor took it upon himself to request that your father be able to come to you instead." Aizawa tugged at the cloth of his capture weapon, "Naturally there was a lot of resistance but the number two hero assured both Tartarus and the Safety Commission that he would take full responsibility should anything happen. I was assigned to his transport detail as a safety precaution."
Kagome clutched at her father's shirt.
So that was how they did it.
Endeavor and Aizawa both were risking their careers if not more to make this moment a reality.
"Thank you." Kagome lifted her head, "Thank you so much."
Aizawa's expression softened for just a moment, "Hero or Villain, every good father feels the same about their child."
Never once in her life did she think it'd be possible for her to reunite with her father in such a way. She'd anticipated on being able to talk with him through the thick, bullet proof glass of Tartarus, but never did she think she'd be able to hug him like this. How many years had it been since she'd last been held by him? Ten years? Even more? She couldn't quite remember.
"You look more and more like your mother every day." Seiichi smiled down at her, "You inherited all of your best traits from Momo."
Kagome rubbed her eyes with the heel of her palm, "Liar. I take after you more than mom."
It was the truth as well.
She'd inherited her father's dark hair, azure eyes and penchant for finding trouble. Her dad always used to tell her that she looked like her mother, but she knew the truth. He was just complimenting her.
"How long are you allowed to stay?" She finally managed to calm herself.
"Just a few hours. He'll have to return after dinner." Aizawa answered for him, "An overnight was not permitted due to the risks involved."
Kagome nodded in affirmation.
A few hours was good enough for her.
"Papa," She smiled up at her father, "Would you like to see the town?"
If she was going to go through with this program, then she wanted him to see the fruits of their labor.
His palm pressed against the space above her brow, "I already have. I'm proud of you. You've and your friends have done so much in such a short time." She felt his arms tighten around her once more, "I couldn't have asked for a better daughter."
Kagome buried herself into his chest as another wave of tears threatened to spill.
If only time could stop.